Experts predict a whole bunch of exciting new trends that will shake the industry next year – everything from shoppable Instagram posts and buyable Pinterest pins, to skyrocketing sales from mobile and a growing importance of customer retention instead of acquisition. As the eCommerce world evolves, a huge variety of different skills and expertise will be needed to stay at the front of the curve.

Yet, hunting for eCommerce jobs isn’t always as straightforward as one might think. And it’s often just that – a clever hunt.

So we put together a list of 10 backdoor ways that will help you discover eCommerce jobs faster and ace the research process.

eCommerce jobs tip #1: Build a dropshipping business and create a job for yourself

Why work for someone else if you can build your own eCommerce business?

Good eCommerce jobs are hard to find and when you come across one, the competition is fiercer than a US presidential debate. But don’t despair, not everything is lost. Dropshipping is an awesome way to kick off your own business with little or no money. The best part about dropshipping is that you can source products from established suppliers without ever having to buy the inventory or handle the packaging and fulfillment side of things.

Probably the biggest obstacle with dropshipping is narrowing down the idea of what you want to sell (check out this resource on finding a profitable eCommerce idea). When you have that figured out, you can get your very own business running in literally just a few days.

eCommerce jobs tip #2: The mazes of Reddit

Unless you’ve got your eyes set on established retailers that operate both online and brick-and-mortar stores, Reddit can turn out to be an invaluable resource in your hunt. It is the go-to place for many aspiring and successful entrepreneurs seeking inside tips and tricks and Reddit’s AMA (Ask Me Anything) threads often capture the attention of thousands of people from all over the world.

The eCommerce subreddit is a real cave of opportunities. Here, online entrepreneurs set out to untangle the most pressing questions and issues, relying on fellow retailers’ experience, insights and advice. Some ask for website critique, others look for particular expertise to help them implement a new idea or share their success and failure stories with the community.

The simple truth is that by dipping into this network of eCommerce hustlers, you’re exposed to unrivalled opportunities to demonstrate your knowledge and promote your skills. I will go out on a limb here and say that you can generate a bunch of leads by simply providing exceptional, free advice to those in need and offering your consultation services.

There’s no harm in creating a new subreddit to ask the community to chip in with tips and advice on where to look for eCommerce jobs. Many have done this in the past.

eCommerce jobs tip #3: The magic of cold emails

Cold emails is the sizzling hot trend of the online world. Many startups, small businesses and solopreneurs base their new leads generation strategy entirely on cold outreach campaigns. So what are they exactly? Simply put, cold emails are emails you send out to people you don’t know but who you think may be interested in your offer.

The purpose of a cold email is to grab the reader’s attention and generate a response. Maybe they’ll come back asking for more information, a call back or a meeting to discuss your proposal. There’s a good chance they’ll ignore you altogether. But, hey, you won’t know until you try.

There are some great cold email formulas out there that you can use to craft compelling and effective copy. Before you get to that stage through, you need to pull a list of emails that fit your criteria. Take a moment to reflect on the types of eCommerce jobs you’d be interested in and the kind of companies you’d be happy to work for and start drafting a list of emails. You can use tools like Yesware and Woodpecker.co (both of them offer free trials) to set up automated mass email campaigns and still keep every email personalised by using tailored email templates. These tools will also allow you to set up automatic follow-up emails and track what happens to your emails after you hit send – you’ll be able to see whether the recipients opened your email and whether they clicked on any of the links inside.

Don’t wait for your dream companies to announce a job opening — reach out first and beat the competition.

eCommerce jobs tip #4: Tapping into Quora

Imagine if you could walk into a room full of experts and have all your burning questions answered. Any question, on any topic. Essentially, that’s the purpose Quora serves. You may not find job proposals lying around left and right, but you’ll be surprised how many ideas you can gather just by browsing relevant discussion threads.

If you have an action plan in place, you can ask for feedback and pointers — chances are you’re not the first person to be pursuing a career in eCommerce, so any insider tips you get will help you cut your search time.

eCommerce jobs tip #5: Nailing LinkedIn

It goes without saying that LinkedIn is one of the primary tools when you’re looking for a job. When it comes to eCommerce jobs, there are a few ways you can exploit it. First, take advantage of the network you’ve built throughout your professional career. Fine-tune your LinkedIn profile to let people in your network know that you’re available for new challenges and emphasize the skills that go hand in hand with the expertise required in eCommerce.

Second, join relevant discussion groups to have first-hand access to both people who work in the industry and the up-to-date information shared among the experts. By genuinely contributing to conversations, you get a chance to establish new connections and build a name for yourself.

Third, and this one is a little obvious, connect with recruiters that specialise in eCommerce to stay on top of new job openings and apply immediately after the vacancy is advertised. The first thing headhunters do is post a message to their network about a new opportunity and only then start combing through their database. eCommerce jobs is something of a hot trend right now, so if you can get a head start over your peers, you should.

eCommerce entrepreneurs are a savvy bunch, so before employing someone full-time and slashing a cut of their profits, they’re more than likely to look for someone who can do the job on a project basis. Freelance marketplaces like PeoplePerHour, Upwork and Fiverr are bubbling with talented professionals who either run a side gig or earn a decent living from freelancing.

Even if you don’t consider this an ideal arrangement — we all know that freelance life is not for everyone — joining freelance marketplaces is a great way to hunt for job opportunities as well as see what skills are most in-demand. Freelance projects often turn into full-time remote work opportunities if both parties are satisfied with the working relationship.

eCommerce jobs tip #7: Make use of Facebook groups

A bit like LinkedIn groups, Facebook groups are a portal to connecting with budding entrepreneurs and eCommerce veterans. Not only does it provide you with a chance to soak in all that knowledge, it’s also a perfect environment to actively solicit eCommerce jobs opportunities.

eCommerce jobs tip #8: eCommerce jobs on the job sites

Yes, it’s an obvious route to take but don’t dismiss it just because it’s so, well, conventional. When a new vacancy opens, employers are determined to fill it as soon as possible, so blasting the job ad through all channels is a common strategy. However, before applying through a job site, check if you have any connections on LinkedIn or within your personal network that could refer you to the company. It’s always easier to get an interview if someone vouches for you. Alternatively, research sites like Hired.com that focus on matching the right people with the right companies and can do the legwork for you.

eCommerce jobs tip #9: Let loose on eCommerce forums

You know what they say — if you want an experience, go to Disneyland. So, to paraphrase, if you want a job in eCommerce, go where eCommerce entrepreneurs hang out. As an eCommerce entrepreneur with an active online store, you’re likely to bump into various issues from time to time. And what’s a better way to have them sorted than to fall back on a community of people who are in the same business as you?

Just a quick browse through some of the most popular eCommerce forums will bring you up to speed with the latest trends, issues and concerns that online entrepreneurs busy themselves with. Can you be of help? Do you have any relevant experience to tackle the issues at hand? If so, it’s perfectly fine to share your knowledge and offer your services. Don’t go in on a hard sell, of course, but providing value-filled answers and hinting at your availability is a neat strategy to start with. Have a look at Shopify or Oberlo, forums (and there’s plenty more!).

eCommerce jobs tip #10: Co-working space networks

This one is a little trickier. Having access to a co-working space network, such as WeWork, is a huge benefit. New job opportunities come up every day and are often shared within the community feed before they reach the depths of the Internet. Of course, you can only participate in the discussions if you’re part of the network, i.e. renting a desk or an office in that coworking space. However, if you know anyone who’s based in a coworking office, it’s worth asking for a favour — can they drop your name and contact details under relevant posts to recommend you? Or, perhaps, share their logins with you so that you can build a list of companies to target in your cold email campaign. It’s a little on the dark side, but you do what it takes to land that dream job, right?

So there you have it — 10 backdoor ways to find eCommerce jobs online. But I still think you should dip your toes into the pool of dropshipping opportunities and build your own dreams!

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Juste Semetaite

Juste Semetaite is a content marketer and a serious life passionista with a flair for learning new things. She has helped many startups shape their brand voice through compelling copy and creative campaigns. You can connect with Juste on LinkedIn or tweet her @JusteSem.

Chaz at LeadFuze

Juste, nice share. I like the number 6 tips. A lot of talented freelancers you can find in Upwork or Fiverr, but sometime you need to run various trial run before hiring a freelancer from those marketplaces. So that you can choose the best employee for your project.